Did you read the article?

QuoteBalrahd
I've lived in California my entire life, and attended public schools my entire life, including UCSB undergrad and UCB Boalt Hall law school. At every level of my education, we discussed the causes of the civil war, and covered other countries that abolished slavery without war. There was nothing remotely controversial about questioning why the political climate in the US was different than that in Great Britain or Brazil.
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In any event, the "controversial" part of Trump's interview was that he made the statement, "People don't realize, you know, the Civil War, you think about it, why? People don't ask that question. But why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?" in the context of Andrew Jackson, who was dead at the time, being "really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War, he said, "There's no reason for this.'"

A couple things. First, Andrew Jackson was dead. He didn't see what was happening with regard to the Civil War, and he never said, "there's no reason for this" from his grave. That's alarming because we haven't had a President of the United States before that lacked the historical education and civics knowledge of a pre-teen.

I'm guessing you didn't read the article, because Trump tweeted, "President Andrew Jackson, who died 16 years before the Civil War started, saw it coming and was angry. Would never have let it happen!"

Trump says a lot of dumb stuff. I think his saber rattling against N.Korea is dreadful. He's like a bully picking on the retarded kid during lunch break in elementary school. But talking about whether or not Andrew Jackson saw the Civil War coming? I know I don't know. I consider myself moderately educated, so to me that's a completely fair question. He could very well be wrong, but I still think it is okay to ask.

QuoteBalrahd
Second, it's not a novel question. It's not an exaggeration to say that poems, books, lectures, classes, plays, mini series, and movies have all been dedicated to the question of why there was a Civil War, and why "that one could not have been worked out." Again, it's shocking that the President of the United States has never contemplated this question before, and is raising it as thought it were for the first time.

You appear to be unable to imagine any scenario where the Civil War does not happen and slavery still ends in the United States. Do you think it is impossible to change a culture without violence and war, even if you could go back in time?

QuoteBalrahd
Third, his manner of speaking about a topic as grave as the Civil War, particularly at a time when people are blindly loyal to a political party more out of tribalism and cultural identity than an educated, intellectual decision, is alarmingly cavalier and ignorant.

I don't know if the above is "controversial," as much as it is shocking.

Eh, that's his whole shtick. He's a populist huckster trying to hit all the hot-button items.

QuoteBalrahd
As a side note, your description of "Berkeley liberals" is insulting. Particularly since the majority of the mayhem has been caused by armed out-of-town right wing extremists.

Unless you're talking about agent provocateurs, I think you're on a different planet. Compare the April 27th rally to the April 15th rally, and tell me why one was violent and one wasn't. Is it because of right wing extremists?